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February 12

February 12, 1733 - The First Wine Cellar


Ordonnature Salmon reported on this date, that behind his house on Toulouse Street, between Chartres and Levee (Decatur) Streets, he had made plans to construct a brick vaulted wine cellar. Actually, the structure, designed by Royal Engineer Ignace Francois Broutin, was a two-story archway with the upper portion used as an office, and the lower, or ground portion used as a wine cellar. The upper room also contained a bedroom and was apparently intended as a living quarters for the quartermaster in charge of the wine. Salmon explained the purpose of the cellar was mainly to provision the hospital. He did not explain why he had it built behind the Intendant's house, rather than at the hospital, which was several blocks away. Construction was completed on April 19, 1735. Thus, this structure became New Orleans' first wine cellar. (Although it no longer exist, the largest wine cellar in the south still exits today a few blocks away on St. Louis Street in Antoine's Restaurant.)

Pictured is Antoine's wine cellar. Founded in 1840, Antoine's is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, and the oldest restaurant under single-family ownership in America. It's wine cellar is said to be one of the largest in the world. It is 165 feet long and seven feet wide. Fully Stocked it will hold approximately 24,783 bottles. Antoine's normally maintains a supply of 17,000 to 20,000 bottles.

Sources:

http://www.yatcom.com/neworl/dining/antoines/netscape/winecellar.html

http://www.historyneworleans.com/index.php

http://www.foodhistory.com/foodnotes/road/cs3/

February 12, 1733 - The First Wine Cellar